Tanzania’s government announced that construction of the long-delayed Bagamoyo Port will begin in December, marking a major restart for a project stalled for more than a decade. Officials confirmed that the port forms part of a wider special economic zone plan that includes industrial parks and upgraded road and rail connections along the country’s eastern corridor.
Bagamoyo, positioned roughly 75 kilometres north of Dar es Salaam, is set to become one of East Africa’s deepest and most capable ports once operational. According to government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa, the port is designed with 28 berths, with construction initially focusing on the first 14. Machinery needed for early works is already en route, reflecting renewed momentum behind the project.
Msigwa highlighted that the port will feature depths of up to 20 metres, enabling it to accommodate vessels larger than those currently calling anywhere else in the region. The facility is expected to handle ships carrying up to 25,000 containers, reinforcing its ambition to shift regional cargo patterns and support Tanzania’s growing position in maritime logistics.
The project was initially framed under a 2013 agreement with China Merchants Holdings International and Oman’s State General Reserve Fund, but implementation slowed due to concerns over contractual terms. The administration led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan reopened negotiations after 2021, setting the stage for the project’s revival and the advancement of the broader economic zone.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free — Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Reuters
